Dive Rescue International - Supplying Water Rescue Training and Equipment

The Dive Rescue I Trainer (DRIT) program is an intensive leadership and trainer course. It is designed to prepare the experienced scuba instructor to teach and maintain certifications for department personnel as Dive Rescue I Specialists. The DRIT will be introduced to a teaching system that addresses the special teaching techniques and educational needs of the emergency services adult learner. The program prepares instructors to be stimulating, confident, and competent.

Instructors will fine tune the teaching methods necessary to help students develop a positive learning attitude. The Dive Rescue I Trainer will be able to teach and certify divers on his/her team in the fundamentals of dive team operations.

Course Topics:

Accident scene evaluation
Cold water near drowning
Team organization and management
Running effective, efficient search patterns
Dealing with bereaved family and friends and on-scene media
Underwater investigation techniques
Rescue vs recovery mode

Minimum Course Hours:
Pre-Course Study (50 hours) + 5-Day Course (60 hours) = Total 110 hours

Student Prerequisites:
All students must be a member of a public safety agency, be at least 21 years of age, have completed the PSSI or another RSTC approved scuba instructor certification, have completed the Dive Rescue 1, Dive Rescue II, and Med Dive program.

Without the proper protection from your potentially hazardous diving environment your rescue/recovery operation may be hindered or even worse, halted. One of the first steps to preparing for contaminated water or ice diving is learning how to dive in a dry suit. This program is conducted in a classroom, pool and an open-water site to allow students to practice their new skills in a controlled environment before the field scenarios. Call to request an application package (800) 248-3483.

Program topics include: Dry Suit History, Types of Dry Suits, Dry Suit Accessories, Proper Sizing and Custom Adjustments, Emergency Procedures, Repairs, Care and Maintenance.

The Dry Suit Diving Trainer program is presented in a classroom, a pool and at an open-water site.

Prepare your department for surface ice rescues by sending a member of your staff to become a certified Dive Rescue International Ice Rescue Trainer. Graduates return to their departments with a complete training program for their agencies. By implementing the program outlined in Dive Rescue International's Ice Rescue manual and using Ice Rescue Student Kits, trainers are able to conduct in-house programs for all department personnel. The program also provides your agency with the flexibility to present the program at your convenience, offering you the option of integrating it into your agency's work schedule. Program topics include instructor methodology, selecting and using specialized equipment, ice-rescue protocols, and various rescue techniques. Note: This is a surface rescue program only; there will be no diving. This program requires an application prior to registration.

Public Safety Scuba Instructor is Dive Rescue International’s most physically demanding and study intensive program. This unique program is designed to help dive teams develop a cost effective way to certify their Public Safety Divers (PSD). By sending one of your team’s most experienced divers through this program, your department’s Public Safety Scuba Instructor (PSSI) can standardize non-divers and open-water divers as PSDs. A PSD certification combines the fundamentals taught in an open-water class with an emphasis on the exacting skills required to successfully dive in a rescue/recovery operation. Both the Public Safety Scuba Instructor and Public Safety Diver programs meet or exceed all the requirements set forth by the Recreational Scuba Training Council. After completion of the PSSI program, graduates may purchase PSD student kits to train members of their own department as PSDs.

Program topics include: Teaching adults, use of multimedia, in-water teaching techniques, diving physics, physiology, equipment maintenance, dive planning, full face masks, dry suit diving, handling stress and dive medicine.

Using Swiftwater Rescue Student Kits, trainers are able to present this course to all personnel, upgrading department response capabilities.

Standardization of rescue techniques within response organizations increases effectiveness in the rescue of victims. Swiftwater and flood situations represent some of the most dangerous response scenarios. Dive Rescue International’s Swiftwater Rescue Trainer program is designed to give trainers a practical and efficient system to build competent and safe swiftwater rescue teams. Successful trainers return to their department with a complete training system that upgrades department capabilities. This program allows the Swiftwater Rescue Trainer to teach the Swiftwater I and II programs to in-house personnel for the price of student kits from Dive Rescue International. This program requires an application prior to registration.

Program topics include: Teaching adults, preparing a presentation, evaluating students, site preparation, hazard identification, equipment, advanced search techniques and conducting simultaneous land and water searches.

Completing the Dive Rescue Swiftwater Trainer program provides 40 hours toward NFPA compliance for standards 1670 and 1006.